Collapsible leaf cart



July 30,-1968 LE ROY R. ANDERSON 3,394,946

COLLAPS I BLE LEAF CART 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 24, 1965 INVENTOR.

LEROY R. ANDERSON ATT'Y.

July 30, 1968 LE ROY R. ANDERSON 3,394,946

COLLAPS IBLE LEAF CART Filed Sept.. 24, 1965 5 Sheets-SheeI 2 INVENTOR Fl G. 7 LEROY R. ANDERSON July 30, 1968 LE ROY R. ANDERSON 3,394,946

COLLAPS I BLE LEAF CART 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 24, 1965 R m m V m LEROY R. ANDERSON United States Patent O 3,394,946 COLLAPSIBLE LEAF CART Le Roy R. Anderson, 23 Highlake Ave., West Chicago, Ill. 60185 Filed Sept. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 489,984 4 Claims. (Cl. 28o-36) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE U-shaped tubular members threaded through tubular edges o-f rectangular portions of a single sheet of flexible material, each having their distal ends hingedly mounted to a side leg of another member so that they fold flat in superimposed relationship for storage, and can be erected in the form of a leaf cart with the end panel pivoted to a vertical end of one side panel for movement in opposite directions from its operative position. The bight portions of the side panels may be inclined over a portion of their length to assist in inverting and emptying the cart.

The present invention relates to a leaf cart and has particular reference to a novel collapsible wheel-supported receptacle having an articulated body structure including three canvas side walls and a canvas bottom wall, the various side walls being foldable upon one another and upon the bottom wall in a particular manner, t'nus providing a substantially flat structure capable of being stored in a relatively small space, as for example upon a shelf or in a leaning position against a wall where it will be in an out-of-the-way position.

According to the present invention, each of the side walls, as well as the bottom wall, is comprised of a substantially U-shaped marginal frame member across which a canvas sheet is stretched to provide a panel-like structure. The distal ends of the side legs of each frame member are hingedly connected to an adjacent longer side leg of :an adjacent wider frame member so that each panel is pivoted to another panel, has four frame supported sides and also a swinging movement so that all panels may be folded substantially coplanar against one another as supported by the canvas without interference with each other, the arrangement being such that the canvas is secured to frame members on :all four sides of each panel in use and pairs of pivoted frames are folded upon each other, the previously positioned flat or collapsed panel structure obtains. The receptacle is capable of being wheeled from place to place either in its extended or its collapsed condition.

The invention is characterized by a leaf cart structure and arrangement wherein each panel side frame element performs multiple functions coordinated for quick assembly and erection, ease in handling, facility in emptying, flatness in storage and ready collapsibility.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an axle member which serves the dual function of supporting the receptacle wheels for tractional engagement with the ground, and of closing the otherwise open side of the U-shaped bottom wall frame, thus obviating the necessity or expense of providing a separate chassis frame or structure for the receptacle as a whole.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of novel latch means whereby the side wall frames may be releasably latched in their extended or erected condition, the latch means also serving effectively to lock the various frames in their collapsed condition when the frames are folded upon one another as previously described.

Still another -feature of the invention is to provide a collapsible leaf cart or receptacle which, after it has been fil-led with leaves or other refuse, is capable of being unloaded with facility, and without undue scattering of leaves, either by inverting the cart with the handle moved up and over or by releasing the tail gate structure thereof, all in a manner that will become clear as the following description ensues.

These being among the objects of the invention, others reside in the provision of a collapsible leaf cart which is extremely simple in its construction and which therefore may be manufactured at a low cost; one which is made largely of tubular metal stock sections `and fitted unitary canvas sheeting, thereby further contributing toward economy of manufacture; one which is comprised of a minimum number of inventory parts and one which accordingly is not likely to get out of order; one which is rugged and durable and which therefore will withstand rough usage; one which is of lightweight construction and which therefore is capable of being easily handled and manipulated; one which is capable of ease of `assembly and disassembly for purposes of inspection of parts, replacement or repair; and one which, otherwise is well adapted to perform the services required -of it. These and further desirable features have been contemplated in the production and development of the present invention will readily suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. l is `a front perspective view of a leaf cart embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view yof the body portion of the cart, extended into a planar configuration for the purpose of illustrating the sectional construction thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail plan view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is :an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the horizontal plane indicated -by the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan View of an end portion of the assembled bottom wall framestructure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken 0n the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7a is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7a- 7a of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, schematic in its representation illustrating the initial step which is performed in unloading the leaf cart;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 8, showing the final step in the unloading operation; and

FIG. l0 is a side perspective view illustrating an alternative manual cart-unloading operation.

Referring now to the drawings in ldetail and in particular to FIGS. l and 2, a collapsible leaf cart incorporating the principles of the present invention is designated in its entirety at 10. In its erected condition as viewed in FIG. l, the cart 10 involves in its general organization four panels 12, 14, 16 and 18 hingedly connected together in a manner that will be made clear presently. The panel 12 constitutes the bottom Wall of the cart; the panels 14 and 16 constitute side walls; while the panel 18 constitutes an end wall or tail gate. The tail gate end of the cart 10 is tractionally supported on wheels 20 Awhile the rear end thereof, though mechanically unsupported, is adapted to be carried by the operator of the cart much in the manner that the handle end of a wheelbarrow is manually supported.

Considering the cart in greater detail, each of the four panels is in the form of a marginal metal frame, preferably of aluminum tube stock for lightness and is covered with one portion or section of a common overall canvas sheet 22 which is cut roughly to the pattern shown in FIG. 2 to provide panel sections 24, 26, 28 and 30 accommodating the panels 12, 14, 16 and 18 respectively. The canvas is stitched to provide certain loop portions by means of which it may be applied to the various panel frames as will be described in detail presently.

Considering the various panel frames without canvas covering, the frame associated with the panel 24 is of elongated relatively narrow configuration having a width and length a little greater than the height and length of the sides. It includes a pair of side legs 32 and 34 and an interconnecting bight portion 36. The distal ends of the side legs 32l and 34 have mounted thereon conventional split sleeve T-adapters 38, the two adapters serving to receive and clamp therebetween a transverse axle rod 4t? (FIG. 3), the opposite ends of which project outwardly beyond the adapters to provide wheel spindles 42 (FIG. 2) on which the wheels 20 are rotatably mounted. A sleeve 34 encompasses the medial region of the axle rod 40 between the two T-adapters and closes the open end of the U-shaped frame. While it is within the purview of the present invention to make the U-shaped frame for the panel 12 of one piece tubular construction, in the illustrated form it is comprised of three pieces, two side legs 32 and 34 having opposed inturned ends interposed between them and, as shown in FIG. 6, a sleeve section 45 interconnecting the inturned ends as secured thereto by nut and bolt assemblies 47.

The two U-shaped frames associated with the panels 14 and 16 are substantially identical and therefore a description of one of them will suffice for the other. The Iframe of the panel 14 includes a pair of parallel side legs 46 and 48 and an interconnecting bight portion 50. The distal ends of the side legs 46 and 48 carry T-adapters 38 by means of which the frame as a whole is pivoted to the adjacent side leg 32 of the frame of panel 12. The distance between the legs 46 and 48 is slightly less than the length of the leg 32 and a collar 52 may be employed to prevent longitudinal shifting of the panel 14 relative to the panel 12 under usage strains so that the end edges of the panel 12 project a slight distance beyond the ends of the panel 14 as best seen in FIG. 2. The projecting :frame portion 36 of the panel i12 constitutes a carrying handle for the forward end of the erected cart and the edge at the axle rod 40 prevents leaves from dropping out as will be presently further explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer corner regions of the two panels 14 and 16 are truncated as indicated at 54. These truncated regions are provided for clearance purposes to allow for rocking of the inverted cart during cart-emptying operations as will be described subsequently in connection with the disclosures of FIGS. 8 and l9.

The U-shaped frame associated with the panel 18 in cludes a pair of parallel side legs 60 and 62 and an interconnecting bight portion 64. The distal ends of the legs 60 and 62 carry T-adapters 38 by means of which the frame as a whole is pivoted to the adjacent side leg 46 of the frame associated with the panel 14.

As previously stated the four frames of the panels 12, 14, 16 and 18 are covered by the four sections 24, 26, 28 and 30 of an integral or one-piece canvas sheet, the general pattern outline of the sheet being shown in FIG. 2. The various panel frames are capable of being swung relative to one another in such a manner as to position them in substantially coplanar relationship and, when so positioned, the canvas sheet outline follows generally the over-al1 outline of the composite frame perimeter. Arcuate cut-away portions designated at 70 are provided in the canvas sheet at the regions where the straightaway portions of the various frames join each other on a curved bias and the intervening portions between adjacent cutaway portions 70 at the marginal edges of the canvas are stitched as at 72 (see also FIG. `3) to provide elongated loops or canvas tubes 74 (FIG. 7a) through which the adjacent portions of the tubular frame members extend. The canvas section 12 has two marginal loops or tubes 74; the sections 14 and 16 each have four marginal tubes 74; While the section 18 has three `marginal tubes with one in common with section 14.

To accommodate the two side legs 32 and 34 of the U- shaped frame associated with the panel 12 for support, rows of stitching (FIGS. 3 and 7) associated with a tubular gathering of the canvas material establish two elongated loops or tubes 82, preferably external, one of which receives the side leg 32 and the other of which receives the side leg 34. Large cut-away portions 86 at the four corners of the canvas section 24 afford the necessary clearances for easy assembly of parts, as well as providing exposed tube areas near the opposite ends of the bight portion 36 of the frame which may be considered as being handle portions which .may be grasped by the operator of the cart for lifting and supporting purposes when the cart is in use.

In assembly the canvas is laid at, the side frame members are threaded through their marginal loops. The sides 32 and 34 of the bottom frame are then inserted in the intermediate loops followed by the sleeve 45 and its securement to ends 36. The legs 62 and 64 are then likewise inserted in the tail gate panel 18 followed by the sleeve 66. Thereupon all fittings are attached for the pivotal movements, the sides folded inwardly, the axle inserted in its cross loop and the wheels installed ready for use.

Considering now the cart 10 in its erected condition as shown in FIG. l, wherein the planar structure of FIG. 2 is so manipulated that the panels 14, 16 and 18 extend in respective vertical planes to provide the aforementioned cart side wall and tail gate structures, stability of the erected structure is afforded by the provision of a single spring retaining clip 90 (FIG. 4) which, in transverse cross section assumes generally the form of the numeral 6. A loop portion 92 partially encompasses the side leg 46 of the frame of the panel section 16 while a hook portion 94 hooks over the adjacent bight portion 66 of the adjacent tail gate section 18 and releasably holds the two adjacent cart walls in their vertical positions.

The two side walls 14 and 16 and the tail gate 18 are capable of being collapsed upon one another in overlying relationship with respect to the bottom wall 12 to provide a substantially planar folded body structure which consumes but little space so that the cart may be readily stored against or hung on a wall in an out-of-the-way place when not in use. The particular order of folding is not critical but preferably the tail gate 18 is first released and folded dat against the adjacent side wall 14 to which it is pivoted, after which this folded structure may he folded fiat against the bottom wall 12. Then the side wall 16 may be folded over the side wall 14 to produce the aforementioned flat folded structure.

As already noted, the width of the tail gate section 18 is slightly less than the width of the side wall section 14 so that the tail gate section finds support only upon the canvas material of the section 14. The tail gate section thus consumes practically no vertical space in the folded structure and, when all of the sections are folded upon one another, the spring clip 90 may be latched beneath the adjacent end region of the axle sleeve 44, thus maintaining the collapsed structure in its flat condition against dislodgement.

In the operation of the herein described leaf cart, the same may be wheeled from place to place for leaf-gathering purposes `by utilizing the exposed projecting end regions of the bight portion 36 (FIGS. l and 6) as a lifting handle for the open end of the cart as previously described. With the bight portion 36 resting on the ground, leaves can be swept directly into the hopper.

After the cart has become tilled with leaves and it is desired to unload the same, it is merely necessary for the operator to roll the cart to a place of discharge, invert the cart in end-over-end fashion as shown in FIG. 8, whereupon the inverted cart will come to rest upon the upper edge regions of the side walls 14 and 16 and the contents of the cart will rest upon the ground. The relatively great longitudinal extent of these two edge regions (designated at 94 in FIG. 8) alfords stable equilibrium to the thus inverted cart.

To complete the unloading operation, the operator may place his foot upon the handle portion of the cart as indicated at F in FIG. 8 and apply downward pressure thereto so -as to rock the inverted cart `about fulcrum points designated at 96 (see also FIG. l) until the cart comes to rest -upon the previously mentioned truncated corners 54 of the side walls 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 9, whereupon the contents of the cart will spill out on the ground, leave the hopper and distribute itself upon the ground in a uniformly shaped packed mound or pile without the customary scattering of leaves which is incident to the unloading of conventional leaf carts.

An alternative method of unloading the leaf cart 10 has been illustrated in FIG, 10 wherein the clip 90 is released frorn the tail gate panel 18 and the latter is swung to its open position in order that the leaves or other contents of the cart may be swept by hand rearwardly out of the cart. This method of cart unloading may be resorted to when the cart is unloaded within a confined space where it is not expedient to invert the cart or when only a small quantity of leaves have been accumulated in the cart.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specication as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, whereas the frame structure for the various cart walls has been described as being comprised largely of aluminum tube stock sections, it is obvious that solid rod stock may be employed if desired. Thus, in the specification and appended claims, where the term rod stock is employed, it will be understood that such term shell be construed so as to be inclusive of tube stock or other linear stock such as angle stock or the like. Materials other than canvas are contemplated for the frame covering, for example a suitable plastic sheet material may be employed if desired, in which case seam welding will be resorted to instead of stitching. Therefore only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible two wheel leaf cart of the character described comprising: an articulated body structure including four wall panels of rigid U-shaped frame members hingedly connected together in edge-to-edge relationship and carrying a preformed cover of flexible sheet material having edge supporting loops receiving the frame members, said panels including an elongated generally rectangular bottom wall panel providing a handle at one end, tractional wheel means for supporting said bottom wall panel at the distal ends of the frame member thereof, a pair of generally rectangular side panels hingedly connected at the distal ends of their frame members to the respective legs of the frame member of the bottom wall panel, said side frame members being truncated at their bight end corners adjacent to the handle, and an end panel hingedly connected at the distal ends of its frame member to one of the side panel frame members on its leg that is located at the wheel end of said bottom panel, said panels being capable of relative swinging movement between a folded condition wherein they are nested together in superimposed relationship for storage and an operative erected condition wherein the bottom panel extends horizontally and the side panels and the end panel extend vertically in a relationsihp wherein the bight portions of the end panel frame is disposed in coextensive contiguity with the corresponding vertically disposed leg portion of the other side panel frame member when the panels are erected, and releasable interlocking means carried by one of said contiguous frame member portions and engageable with the other of said contiguous frame member portions for maintaining said panels in their erected condition.

2. A collapsible leaf cart as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said releasable interlocking means on said one contiguous leg portion is carried by one of the side panel frame members and is selectively engageable with the other contiguous frame member of the end panel and with the adjacent distal end of the bottom panel frame member and so arranged that said interlocking means is effective to releasably lock the panels in either their erected or their collapsed condition.

3. A collapsible leaf cart as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said sheet of flexible material is canvas formed with said loops encompassing the bight portions and side legs of the side and end panel frame members and with gathered loops encompassing the side legs of the bottom wall panel frame member.

4. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said U-shaped frame members are tubular metal stock and the legs and bight portion of each frame member are joined by curved corner portions, and said edge supporting loops encompass the frame members except at the curved corners and said hinge connection areas of the distal ends of the frame members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,572 1/ 1956 Dunham 280-36 2,891,802 6/1959 Moran 280-36 2,896,960 7/1959 Whiting 280--36 2,992,011 7/1961 Becan 280--36 2,689,745 9/ 1954 Rosenberry 280-47.26

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

L. D. MORRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

